True to the Jamaican clash tradition, each collective will bring in their own sound system and will set up shop on one of four individual stages. Exchange LA may crumble under the force of some of the city's heaviest sounds of now: from Dim Mak’s hard-hitting, larger-than-life electronics, to the eclectic funk, soul, and hip hop stylings of the Stones Throw family; from Dub Club’s original roots reggae to the futuristic beats ‘n’ bass of the Low End Theory posse
Dub Club was started in 2000 in Los Angeles and has become a Wednesday night party staple at the Echoplex, with resident selectors Tom Chasteen, Boss Harmony, Dungeonmaster, and Roy Corduroy, spinning strictly reggae vinyl and inviting select guest artists to the stage: from the Melodians and Abyssinians, to every iconic ‘80s deejay you could possibly think of, to the likes of Sean Paul and Damian Marley. At Culture Clash they will be backed by their regular MC Jah Faith as well as King SturGav Hi-Fi’s legendary mic controller, Brigadier Jerry.
Another famed Wednesday regular, Low End Theory has been the epicentre of a worldwide beat movement for time: inspiring producers from San Franscisco to Glasgow to Berlin. Headed up by leftfield hip hop vet (and Alpha Pup label honcho) Daddy Kev, Low End Theory has helped launch the international careers of Nobody and Gaslamp Killer, brought turntablism legend D-Styles back into the well-deserved limelight, and continues to add fuel to the flame of the scene with a constant stream of new artists, tours, podcasts, and releases.
Dim Mak Records might be best known for its charismatic (and often controversial) honcho, DJ Steve Aoki, but has also been a label home to artists like Bloc Party, The Bloody Beetroots, Atari Teenage Riot, Etienne de Crecy, and Whirlwind Heat, since 1996. At Culture Clash, the electro powerhouse will be represented by label high-flyer Them Jeans, Cannonball Sundays residents (thee) Mike B and Fashen, as well as Chicago’s ghetto house originator DJ Funk.
Finally, Stones Throw needs little introduction. Originally started by Peanut Butter Wolf as a platform for his own music with buddy Charizma (RIP), it has grown to become what is arguably the most important indie label for hip hop music, in the broadest sense of the term. From the holy trinity of neo-backpack rap – Madlib, Doom, and Dilla – to soul revivalists like Aloe Blacc or Mayer Hawthorne, to coveted funk re-releases on sub-label Now-Again, as well as extravagant electro boogie, new wave and psychedelic meanderings, Stones Throw has been a pool for quality ish of all sorts since its inception in 1996. At the Exchange, PBW will be joined on stage by now-school balladeer Mayer Hawthorne, Academy lecturer DâM-FunK and DJ supremo J Rocc.
Like all other contending crews, Stones Throw will play four sets of ten minutes each (Selection Round, Entertainment Round, Switch-up-styles Round, Banger Round), plus a 15-minutes-long warm-up. The crowd will be voting after each round, with their applause and cheers being measured by a decibel meter – under the watchful eye of the host for the night, MC Commandeer.
A full recording of the clash will be uploaded of myself after the event.
Red Bull Music Academy Culture Clash LA
December 2, 2011 – Start: 8pm
Exchange LA
618 S. Spring Street, Los Angeles, CA 90014
Ages 21+
Line-Up
Dim Mak - Them Jeans, (thee) Mike B, Fashen, DJ Funk & surprise guests
Dub Club - Echodelic Soundsystem w/ Tom Chasteen, Boss Harmony, Dungeonmaster, Roy Corduroy & Jah Faith, Brigadier Jerry & surprise guests
Low End Theory - Daddy Kev, Nobody, D-Styles, Nocando & special guests
Stones Throw - Peanut Butter Wolf, Mayer Hawthorne, J Rocc & DâM-FunK
Hosted by MC Commander
